Clasp for wrist-watch bands



Feb; 17, 1931. E. F. HERSCHEDE 1,792,742

-CLASP FOR WRIST WATCH BANDS Filed March 10/ 1927 52 34' gvmm'niooEDWARD)? HERSCHEDE,

61km new Patented Feb. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES EDWARD IF; I-IEBSCH EDE,OF. CINCINNATI, OHIO CLASP FOB WRIST-WATCH BANDS Application filed March10, 1927. Serial 'No. 174,360.

This invention relates to improvements in clasps :for attaching metalwrist watch bands to Wrist watches.

Anobject of this invention is -to provide ta device for attachingimeta'l Wrist watch bands to wrist watches, that can be easily securedto and readily vremovedmfrom wrist watches.

Another object of-thisinventionis'to providea device, as statedabove,ithat utilizes the band as a T locking means to preventinadvertent disassociation of the band from the wrist watch.

Another object of :this invention is 'to provide a device forattaching.- a. wrist watch band to a wrist watch that is inexpensive-tomanufacture and which presents appleasing and attractive article whencomplete.

"These and other objects are attained'by the means described herein anddisclosed in the accompanying drawings, :in which:

Fig. lis-a top plan view of a wrist .watch and means 'foratta'ching -aband=to the watch having embodiedtherein this invention.

"Fig.2 is'anenlarged sectional view taken on 'line22 of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmented SBCiZiOIlfilAVl'BW,

similart' Fig.2, showingtheimproved clasp unlocked --so-that the wristwatch may be disassociated from the'strap.

Fig. 4*is atop plan YiBWfOf aimodlfied f0rmof clasp embodyingthereinthisinvention.

Fig. '5 isatop planview of anothermodification of the clasphavingembodiedttherein this invention.

*Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-43 of Fig. '5.

Fig. 7 ,is a sectional 'view' taken on line 7-"7.-of' Fig.

The improved-clasp of this invention is of that type which is secured towrist watches and allowed to remain secured for months or -years,it'being necessary to remove theclasp from'fthe watch only at such timesthat it is necessary to -repai'r or 'cleanthe-watch, or replace the"band.

The clasp 10 is used to attach one mem- "ber-of-a sectional-wrist watchband to a-wrist watch. A-wrist watch 'bandcomprises two members such as11. The free ends 13 of the members 1 1 are provided with complementarymeans for detachably connecting such ends together. The herein disclosedinvention is concerned with the attachmentof the members with theopposed sides of a Wrist watch.

Each clasp 10 is of a hook-shape-and comprises a pair of arms 15 and 16of unequal length. The way 17 between the arms 15 and 16 receives a-baror post 18 carried by arms 19 and 20 extending from the Wrist watch case21. :The-arm l5'of the clasp is provided with an abutment 22, struckinward from the body ofthearm 15. An elongated perforation 23, extendinglaterally of the arm 15, isformedintermediate the abutment 22 and theremainder ofthe arm 15. The band 11 of spring steel or other metalextends through the elongated slot 23. The end 27 of the band adjacentbar 18 onthe watch, is bent upon itself to provide a double thickness ofthe band underlying the arm 15. The band is bent upon itself at'25, suchp,or tion. having spring characteristics. When the band is in itsoperative position, the looped end of'the band is received in the way 17and prevents the bar 18v from passing therethrough. The forward end 26of the overlapping finger 27 of theband contacts the abutment 22 andprevents the disassociation of the wrist watch from the clasp 10.

The body of the arm 15 may be provided with a perforation 28, which maycommunicate with an elongatedperforation 29 formed in the band 11. Itwill be noted from Fig. 2, thatthe perforation'28 and elongatedperforation 29 are in alignment, whereby the finger 27 of the spring maybe seen from the outside. Vhen it is desired to remove the band andclasp from the watch a pin or the like 30 is inserted-through theperforation 28 and elongated perforation 29 and pressure is applied tospring the forward edge 26 of the band beyond the abutment 22 as shownin dotted lines in 'Fig. 2. Thereafter the band may be moved to theright and leaving the throat of the hook between the arms 15 and 16unobstructed so that the bar 18 of the wrist watch may be withdrawn fromthe way 17, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The modified structure shown in Fig. 4 comprises a hook-like member 14and a band 11 having one end of band bent upon itself to provide an armsimilar to the finger 27. This modified structure, however, comprises alug 31 that may extend beyond the body lines of the hook member 14 tofacilitate projection of edge 26 of arm 27 beyond abutment 22.

The modification shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 may comprise a pin-likemember 32 carried on a lug 33 formed on the clasp arm 15. The lug 33 mayhave spring characteristics, dependent upon the character of metal fromwhich the clamp 14 is made. Normally the lug 33 holds the pin 32 in suchposition that by depressing the lug, the pin functions to project theend 26 of finger 27 beyond the abutment 22.

In this modification the abutment 22 is formed by bending a pair of ears3d and 35 upon the body of the clasp arm 15, see Fig. 7, therebyproviding a way 36 between the ears 34: and 35 and the arm through whichthe band extends. It should be noted that this abutment structure may beused with either of the other clasp structures.

In assembling the band 12 with the clasp 10, the end 26 is sprung awayfrom the band and passed through the elongated perforation 23 until theabutment 22 reaches the loop or eye in the band. Whereupon, the band isrotated about the abutment 22 and the band passed further through theelongated perforation 23 until the edge 26 of the arm 27 contacts theedge of the abutment 22 and the loop or eye of the spring closes the wayor throat 17 in the clasp 14.

.Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described the combination with a wrist watchhaving a bar extending therefrom, of a hooloshaped memher having armsand a way between said arms, the way adapted to receive the wrist watchbar, one of the arms being provided with an elongated perforation and anabutment. a band extending through the elongated perforation and havingone end bent upon itself to form an abutment on the band in alignmentwith and normally contacting the abutment carried by the hook-shapedmember, means carried by the band for normally closing the way betweenthe arms of the hookshaped member to prevent detachment ot the wristwatch bar from the hook-shaped member, and means for disengaging theabutments from one another whereby the hook-shaped inen'iber may bedisassociated from the wrist watch.

2. In a fastening device the combination of a. hook shaped clasp havinga throat at its hooked end for receiving a bar, the clasp having aportion thereof depending in alignment with the throat and serving as anabutment,

the clasp having an aperture therein, the aperture disposed between theabutment and the adjacent clasp section, and a band of spring metal,turned upon itself for providing a loop thereon and an end portionextending away from said loop and in substantial parallelism with theadjacent portion of said band, the abutment on the clasp slidablyreceived between the parallel band portions for movement of the loopacross the throat for closing the throat and with the said end of theband in locked abutment against said depending portion of the clasp forretaining the loop at said throat.

3. In combination with a watch case having a strap bar, a sleeve havinga hook adapted to take over and engage said strap bar, and havingholding means, metal strap adapted to be inserted into said sleeveagainst said hook, and a spring member on said strap adapted to engagesaid holding means on said sleeve whereby said hook is pivotally lockedupon said bar.

4. An end member for a metal strap comprising a sheet metal body of bandshape to receive and embrace the strap end, a hook on said body, thestrap end slidable through said body and across the hook opening toclose it, a detent lip on the body, and a spring tongue on the strapengaging said lip to releasably retain said end member on the strap.

5. In combination with a watch case having a strap bar, a sleeve havinga hook on its inner end adapted to take over and engage said strap barand having holding means on its other end, a metal strap adapted to beinserted into said sleeve. and rest against said hook and resilientmeans on said strap adapted to engage said holding means on said sleevewhereby said hook is looked upon said bar.

6. In combination with a watch case, strap holding means as specified inclaim 5 wherein the sleeve comprises a body member substantiallyrectangular in cross-section, the under side of which is provided withan opening adjacent the resilient means to permit said resilient meansto be sprung out of engagement with said holding means for the purposesspecified.

7. In combination with a watch case having strap bars, a pair of sleeveseach having a hook on its inner end adapted to take over and engage saidstrap bars, respectively, and each sleeve having holding means on itsother end, a pair of metal straps adapted to be inserted into saidsleeves, respectively, and rest against said hook, respectively, andresilient means on said straps adapted to engage said holding means onsaid sleeves, respectively, whereby said hooks are looked upon saidbars.

8. In combination with a watch case having bars formed integral with theends thereof, a pair of sleeves the inner ends of" integrally with saidstraps and adapted to engage said lips, respectively, whereby saidsleeves and straps'are locked in pivotal relation upon said strap bars,respectively;

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th dayof Febru- V ary, 1927.

' EDWARD F. HERSCHEDE.

